They have playground equipment, places to shoot hoops - and now the opportunity to take or share books.

Rush Township recently added Little Free Library boxes to the Grier City Park and Playground and the Quakake Park and Playground.

“We are at an age where texting is the most common,” Rush Township supervisor Robert Leibensperger said. “People and children need to spend time just reading a book. It builds patience and understanding by reading.”

The township’s newest book sharing boxes are an addition to those placed last summer in Hometown’s Kelly and Miller parks, Leibensperger noted.

The Little Free Library book sharing boxes are open during park hours and accessible to all.

Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota. According to information from the organization, its mission is to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led book-exchange boxes.

“We believe all people are empowered when the opportunity to discover a personally relevant book to read is not limited by time, space or privilege,” the organization notes.

There are more than 175,000 Little Free Libraries in 121 countries.